Some of the highlights of a productive year
2022 was a very productive year. Here are some highlights of the Greenburgh year in review.
1) Greenburgh approves the 2023 budget with a 6% tax rate reduction--the largest tax rate reduction in recent memory. We are trying to mitigate the towns portion of the property tax burden to the best of our ability. Some residents will see more or less or the same than a 6% tax reduction in property taxes based on the drivation of the 2022 Assessment.
2)Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and the NYS Department of Transportation awarded the town a $5 million grant to build a sidewalk on West Hartsdale Ave and to make additional safety improvements on E Hartsdale Ave. Lt Governor Antonio Delgado made the announcement at a press conference on W Hartsdale Ave at the Hartsdale Fire house this summer.
3) Congressman Mondaire Jones helped the town receive a one million dollar grant from the federal government to build a sidewalk on Dobbs Ferry Road from Knollwood to Route 119. We will continue our efforts to make Greenburgh a safer area for pedestrians. A hawk eye traffic signal will be installed in front of Sacred Heart Church on Central Ave in the near future -enabling pedestrians to safely walk. Underground work has been completed. We're just waiting for a part. A few years ago a student was hit by a car when crossing the Ave. A new sidewalk will be built on N Washington (contract was awarded in 2022 but work won't take place until 2023). We're working with the Juniper Hill Civic Association on a sidewalk on Juniper HIll that will be designed in 2023.. And, next year anticipate that a major sidewalk will be built on Hillside Ave from Town Hall to South Road. That sidewalk was supposed to be built this year but Con Ed plans to do underground gas work on Hillside soon so the sidewalk is being delayed till next year. We built a short sidewalk on parts of Robin Hill Road (near the Seely Place School). Recently we received a $120,000 check from Avalon to build a sidewalk on parts of Taxter Road.
4) Greenburgh stepped up our efforts to address flooding problems around town. Every year we will appropriate significant funding for flood control initiatives. In 2023 we took important action steps that could reduce flooding for homes impacted by Troublesome Brook in Edgemont and Manhattan Brook in Fairview, among other flood relief initiatives. This summer the DPW team spent time widening the channel along Central Ave most impacting the Greenville Fire department. The work increased the storage and decreased it being prone to clogging. We are also removing obstructions in Brooks, Rivers around the town that contribute to flooding and have received grants from the county to come up with additionall solutions. We will need many millions of dollars to address much of the flooding in town. If we appropriate funds each year over a period of time there will be a big difference. After last years storm we created the FEMA angels- volunteers helping seniors apply for FEMA grants. And the town applied for a FEMA grant this year to lift up homes on Babbitt Court that always get flooded.
5) NYS completed a 19 million dollar overhall of the Ravensdale Road bridge that connects Hastings to unincorporated Greenburgh near Jackson Ave. No one will ever be able to compare the Ravensdale bridge to London Bridge---our bridge isn't falling down!
6) Although the pandemic is not over the number of deaths and hospitalizations caused by the pandemic is way down. And - Greenburgh buildings no longer require masks. Earlier this year Town Board members Ken Jones, Gina Jackson, Francis Sheehan, Ellen Hendrickx and I distributed free masks and Covid test kits to residents. The County Executive also joined us at a distribution location at Acme supermarket. Post pandemic-- Day camp enrollment was sold out. Senior activities are back to normal. New programs being introduced.
7) The Governor named Greenburgh Town Attorney Tim Lewis as a Judge - NYS Court of Claims. Tim was a hard working Town Attorney for many years. The Town Board also appointed Judge Erin McGoey to a vacant position on the Town Court. She was elected to the position.
8) NYS approved a law pushed by Greenburgh to increase senior citizen exemptions. Those who earn less than $58,000 are qualified for partial exemptions. We've been pushing for an increase in exemption qualifications for at least a dozen years.
9) 47 Greeenburgh interns---Town Clerk Judith Beville coordinated the 2022 internship program. Among speakers: Meredith Viera, former co host of the NBC TODAY SHOW; JT Rogers who won the Tony award winning play OSLO; Judith Cheng- Hopkins, former Assistant Secretary General at the United Nations in charge of Refugees and Barrett Seaman, former White House correspondent for TIME Magazine and editor of the Hudson Independent. The students prepared public service announcements, interacted with other elected officials and civic leaders.
10) NYS authorized local governments to reduce speeding limits on certain roads from 30 mph to 25 mph.
11) Regeneron breaks ground on 1.8 billion expansion project at their Greenburgh headquarters--millions of dollars in additional revenue to the town. And, lots of additional brilliant people coming to town. Regeneron has repeatedly and consistently translated science into medicine and the company has led to numerous FDA approved treatments. The towns rezoning of the property a number of years ago is paying big dividends today.
12) The Governor signed a law that the town was pushing for that authorizes the town of Greenburgh to assess newly constructed condominiums and cooperative as residential developments. Currently condo's and coop's are assessed as commercial properties and they pay less taxes than residential properties. This law only applies to new condo's and coops -not existing condo's and coops.
13) Some exciting new businesses: BJs Wholesale Club at Crossroads Shopping Center; Duck Donuts at Crossroads; ShopRite on Saw Mill River Road, Crumb Cookies at Dalewood; a new Indian and Latino restaurant on E Hartsdale Ave and Golfzon on Central Ave (and indoor facility people can play golf using a simulator at some of the world's top golf courses. Am forming a new Greenburgh Chamber of Commerce to serve unincorporated Greenburgh - East Hartsdale Ave, Central Ave, 119 and Saw Mill River Road
14) Westchester County offered free bus service during the summer and December holidays to residents--good for the planet, reduces congestion and helps residents save money.
15) Implementation of our new APP- FixitGreenburgh. take a photo of a pothole, downed loose wires ,broken lights , trees in danger of fallingand other town problems. Using GPS - the APP can identify the exact location of the problem and help us keep track of the complaint and quickly address the issue.. Pictures of the problem are sent directly to town officials from your phone
16) We created a new App listing the existing vacant commercial properties in town --which has helped lease vacant commercial properties into exciting new businessse.
17) Two new pollinator gardens in town: at Hartsbrook Nature Preserve and at AF Veteran park
18) Worked with Formula finders -set up a bin at Town Hall. Residents donated difficult to find formulas for those who had a difficult time finding the formulas. Many parents stopped by at Town Hall daily picking up formulas. The formula finders drop off location at Town Hall continues to provide free formulas to families who either can't afford the formulas or who need the formulas or or who can't find them.
19) Kobie Powell made town history - the first African American Police Chief in history. The Greenburgh Police department has been trying hard to diversify the force. Maria Portilla, our Hispanic Liaison, volunteers her time at Town Hall every Tuesday to help immigrants and residents overcome government red tape. Her work was featured on WABC TV.
20) Metro North started building elevators at the Hartsdale train station- an initiative the town has advocated for many years. The elevators will make it easier for the disabled to take the train into the city.
21) PIckelball--the town is in the process of adding 4 more pickleball courts at Rumbrook. We enhance pickleball courts at AF Veteran park.
22) The town received a $500,000 grant from NYS to continue our renovations of the historic Odell House on Ridge Road. This house played a critical role in the Revolutionary War. We are restoring the roof and now will fully restore the house well in advance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The house will be turned into a museum.
23) We received a $500,000 grant from Assemblyman Tom Abinanti to upgrade Massaro Park basketball courts and to take additional actions to enhance the park.
24) We built a new playground on Taxter Road. We created a new parking area at the park and plan a sidewalk from the Old School (where the playground is) to Mountain Road. An archery Range was built at East Rumbrook Park, a new playground was installed at Massaro. A playground upgrade at the Glenville Woods Park Preserve added a swing set and sensor board maze to the existing playground. Community encouragement resulted in 10 new community gardens being built at the farm. A turf cricket pitch is currently under construction at Richard Presser Park
25) Safety upgrades near the Seely Place school -including making Mt Joy and Robin Hill Road one way and adding a short sidewalk on parts of Robin Hill Road. These changes have made it safer for children to walk to school.
26) Greenburgh Health Center helping Ukrainian refugees with their medical needs.
27) Sterling Optical (which is located on Central Ave) donates more than 75 free eye exams, frames and lenses to over 75 residents on fixed incomes. The event was held at the Theodore Young Community Center. Last year Sterling Optical arranged to donate a motorized wheelchair to a resident in need--on short notice.
28) Greenburgh Teen Task Force to Combat Food Insecurity--the committee, inspired by the wor of Tanya Shukla, has created a cupboard at the Greenburgh Health Center.
29) The Greenburgh Snow Angels and Landscape Angels continue to provide free help to the elderly and disabled. The snow angels have been assisting seniors with snow removal for over 30 years and the landscape angels completed their first year. Both groups are organized by students.
30) The Greenburgh Parks & Recreation department, working with the Fairview Empowerment Group and Councilwoman Gina Jackson, organized four summer festival events at Massaro, Washington Travis and Presser Parks.
31) The Greenburgh Nutrition program was able to secure a $100,000 grant to deliver weekend meals to residents.
32) As part of an Eagle Scout project the World War I memorial monument at DeSanti Plaza was reconditioned and relocated to DeSanti Plaza as part of the Veterans Memorial.
33) A return - our fireworks celebration during Celebrate Greenburgh day. A record turnout during Spooktoberfest: Over 2,500 attendee at Hartsbrook Nature Preserve.
34) Town Board approved 113 single family homes at the former Elmwood property. the developer promised to dedicate 14.2 acres of parkland next to East Rumbrook Park.
35) Metro North is constructing an elevator at the Hartsdale train station - an initiative the town has been pushing for for many years.
36) The parks department sent out a request for proposal for the development, operation and management for an indoor and outdoor tennis facility at AFV Park and currently the town is in negotiations with a vendor. There is a potential of $10 million dollars in facility development that could generate $22 million dollars in revenue to the town over the next 30 years.
Many of the Greenburgh initiatives we are thankful for could not have happened without the help and support of very dedicated department heads, employees who work for the town, the members of the Town Board, appointees to our Citizen Advisory and Policy making Boards.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
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